INDY RAP ART

“Hollow” by MaxMilly Review
By Gabrielle Lamontagne

This is one of the most melancholy rap-style songs I’ve heard. It’s unclear whether the song’s narrator is going through a break up or dealing with the death of a friend. By the lyrics of the song such as “let’s stay alive, no more goodbyes”, I tend to think it’s the latter. This is always a difficult subject to think about – either as the artist or an audience member. Many will relate to the feelings of pain and emptiness, related through such lyrics as the main line: “my chest is hollow, trying to find my heart, but I think I’m dead”.

Trauma of this kind is known for its numbing and depressing effect. Thinking about the person you lost seems constant. These sentiments are revealed by the lyrics “waking up in the middle of the night with a ghost right next to my bed” and “feeling like a reject here on the shelf.” The music behind the vocals also has a steady beat but a melancholy tone from the deep sound and slower-than-rap-style pace. These lyrics remind me of one of my favorite quotes in the television show Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Buffy’s mom has just died and she and her friends don’t know how to properly mourn such an acute loss. One of the characters known for her lack of tact and often thought to have a lack of empathy says, “I don’t understand how this all happens, how we go through this. I mean, I knew her and then she’s…there’s just a body and I don’t understand why she just can’t get back in it and not be dead anymore. It’s stupid. It’s mortal and it’s stupid.” Dealing with loss of any kind, even through a falling out, is always confusing and difficult, but it’s also one of the constants of human existence.

The narrator seems to learn by the loss of this person that every minute with friends is precious. Much of the song is devoted to spending time with friends and living life, as represented by lines like the aforementioned “let’s stay alive, no more goodbyes” and “I won’t forget these times”. He also talks to the person he lost, saying “you are not alone, I am here with you”. He feels like he’s at “the end of the world”, but he still values his friends more than himself and wants to make the most of whatever time he has left with them. It’s sad, but beautiful and sends a poignant message.

Gabrielle has been writing since childhood. She is currently enjoying her day job, but considers herself a writer first and foremost. She also loves to read, travel, and sing karaoke with friends.